Protective shield attache case

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an attache case that can be used in the conventional manner for transporting personal effects but which additionally functions as an armor shield to protect a user from projectiles fired by hand guns. At a time of use an armor assembly is expanded from a compact nested arrangement into an expanded configuration that increases the surface area of the protective shield.

United States Patent n 1 Sgariglia, Jr.

[ 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 1 PROTECTIVE SHIELD ATTACHE CASE [75] Inventor: Anthony E. Sgariglia, Jr., Oxford,

Mass.

[73] Assignees: Wilfred V. Johnson; John E.

Anastasi, Oxford, Mass.

22 Filed: Mar. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 236,862

[52] US. Cl 109/22, 109/23, 109/49.5 [51] Int. Cl. E05g 3/00 [58] Field of Search 109/49.5, 58.5, 58,

109/22, 23, 44, 1l15,17,18,2932, 10, 24; 89/36 R, 36 D; 190/9,11, 52,41 R, 44; 150/].6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,643,609 2/1972 Maywald et a1, 109/29 40,213 10/1863 Jamain 109/58.S X

1,323,433 12/1919 Alexander 109/58.5 X

1,381,301 6/1921 Hargrave 109/36 1,401,959 [/1922 Busch 109/12 1,706,387 3/1929 Kramer 190/42 UX 2,050,178 8/1936 Hite 109/58.5 X 2,609,072 9/1952 Levinson 190/11 Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor Attorney-John E. Toupal [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is an attache case that can be used in the conventional manner for transporting personal effects but which additionally functions as an armor shield to protect a user from projectiles fired by hand guns. At a time of use an armor assembly is expanded from a compact nested arrangement into an expanded configuration that increases the surface area of the protective shield.

22 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED um 21975 SHEET 3UP 3 PROTECTIVE SHIELD ATTACHE CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an attache case and, more particularly, to an attache case that can be easily and quickly converted into a protective shield for projectiles fired from firearms.

The incidence of both crippling and mortal injury of personnel engaged in law enforcement activities has increased alarmingly in recent years. Frequently such injuries are caused by bullets discharged from hand guns fired by law violators of various description. The injuries are suffered by all types of law enforcement personnel including those at local, state and federal levels. Furthermore, although armor shields of varied configuration are known and available, their infrequent use has done little to alleviate the problem. One reason is that law enforcement officers tend to employ such devices, if at all, only when in a high risk activity while the majority of firearm inflicted injuries occur spontaneously during routine operations. In addition, the cumbersome, bulky designs of known protective shields creates an inherent reluctance for their use for both practical and psychological reasons.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a convenient armor shield that will be both accepted and widely used by law enforcement personnel so as to reduce therefor the risk of serious injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is characterized by the provision of an attache case that can be used for transporting personnel effects in the conventional manner but which is further provided with armor that will resist penetration of projectiles fired by hand guns. A user suitably positioning the case between himself and an armed adversary is reasonably well protected from serious injury. Furthermore, its diverse utility and inconspicuousness render the attache case of the present invention prone to wise acceptance and extensive use.

A featured embodiment of the invention includes parallel armor plates slidably mounted in a compact nested arrangement within the case and extendible through slots therein into an expanded position. The plates are retained within the case by a latch mechanism that is released by a trigger at the time of use. In one form of this embodiment the triggered plates slide through slots in opposite side walls of the case into positions in which each plate is approximately half exposed. In these expanded positions the plates provide a continuous shield approximately double the size of the closed case. One of the slides is forced outwardly by a spring member while the other slide is allowed to drop under the influence of gravity. A transparent armor material is preferred for the armor plates so as to render a confronted party visible to the user of the case. The plates occupy only a portion of the case's interior leaving an open volume for storage of personal effects. In another form of this embodiment, there are retained within the attache case three parallel plates only two of which slide through a single slot upon release. The released plates fall by gravity into positions wherein the bottom edge of one is adjacent the top edge of the other so as to provide with the third plate retained within the case an expanded shield substantially three times the size of the unopened case.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a cylindrical roll of woven metallic sheet material that also is impenetrable by projectiles fired by hand guns. The roll is mounted within the attache case adjacent a side wall having a slot through which the sheet material can be withdrawn at a time of desired use. In this embodiment as in those described above, the free volume within the attache case is preferably provided with a molded insert shaped to accommodate the storage of items such as revolvers and handcuffs typically used by law enforcement offiers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the carriage slide mechanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view showing the armor plate assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating still another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a partial view of a modified protective plate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. I there is shown an attache case 11 formed by separable top and bottom sections 12 and 13. The top section 12 retains a bullet proof, expandable armor assembly described in detail below while the bottom section 13 defines a volume 14 for receiving personal effects. In one preferred embodiment, the volume 14 retains a molded insert 15 having recesses shaped to receive particular personal effects. For example, the recesses can accommodate personal effects typically utilized by law enforcement personnel such as the gun l6 and handcuffs 17 illustrated in FIG. 1 and secured by elastic bands 18.

The top section 12 supports a carrying handle 21 and latch'members 22 that are accommodated by compatible latch elements 23 in the bottom surface 13. Opposite the latch members are a pair of hinges 24 that con nect the sections 12 and 13 while allowing relative movement therebetween.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the attache case 11 is shown closed with substantially flat top and bottom walls 26 and 27, respectively, joined by opposing side walls 28, 29 and 31,32, respectively. The top and bottom walls 26 and 27 are included parts, respectively, of the top and bottom sections 12 and 13 while the side walls 28, 29, 31 and 32 each include a side wall portion of both sections 12 and 13.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the top section 12 includes an inner wall 35 that conceals an expandable armor assembly 36. Included in the armor assembly 36 are a pair of armor plates mounted parallel to the top wall 26 and having surface areas substantially coextensive therewith. The armor plates 37 and 38 are formed of a suitable material that is impenetrable by the projectiles fired by typical hand guns. A preferred material is Lexan which material has the additional advantage of being transparent. Supporting the armor plates 37 and 38 from the inner surfaces of side walls 31 and 32 are slide units 39 shown more clearly in FIG. and described in greater detail below. A spring member 41 has ends secured to opposite internal extremities of the top wall 26 and a mid-portion attached by a bracket 42 to the lower mid-portion of the outer armor plate 37. The spring member 41 exerts a biasing force tending to force the armor plate 37 through a slot opening 43 in the side wall 28. A similar slot opening 44 in the opposite side wall 29 permits movement of the inner slide 38 out of the upper case section 12 under the influence of gravity. Preventing this movement of the plates 37 and 38 is a lever 45 pivotally supported by a bracket 46 from the inner wall 35 and having a pin portion 47 that extends through apertures 48 in each of the armor plates 37 and 38 and the inner wall 35. Fixed to the end of the lever 45 opposite the retaining pin portion 47 is a trigger pin 49 that extends through a trigger slot 51 in the side wall 28 directly below the handle 21.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of the slide units 39 shown in FIG. 4. Each unit includes a pair of slide members 53 fixed to one of the side walls and slidably supporting movable carriages 54 which in turn slidably support the armor plates 37 and 38. A force exerted on either of the plates 37 and 38 in directions parallel to the fixed slides 53 induces movement of both the plates and the carriage elements 54. The carriages 54, however, move at a slower speed than the plates so as to undergo a lesser magnitude of linear movement. Stops (not shown) in the units 39 limit movement of the plates 37 and 38 to a distance approximately one half their length in the direction of travel. With the plates in such expanded positions, the carriage elements 54 are extended such that one half their length is supporting the adjacent plate while the other half is supported by the adjacent fixed slide member thereby providing substantial stability to the plates when in their expanded positions. The details of the slide assemblies 39 do not, per se, comprise a portion of the present invention and details of suitable slides of this type are disclosed, for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,124,511.

The attache case 11 can be used by any of a wide variety of law enforcement personnel while engaged in their normal duties. In general use, the case 11 serves the usual function of an attache case with the volume 14 accommodating personal effects of the owner. However, at any time a user anticipates facing an armed adversary he converts the case into an expanded armor shield that is then maintained between himself and the opponent. Expansion of the armor assembly 36 is achieved simply by movement of the trigger pin 49 within the slot 51 producing pivotal movement of the lever 45 as shown dotted in FIG. 4. This movement removes the retainer pin portion 47 from the apertures 48 and permits the spring member 41 to eject the armor plate 37 through the opening 43 into the position shown dotted in FIG. 3. With the case held by the handle 21 in an upright position, the released inner armor plate 38 descends through the opening 44 under the force of gravity to the position also shown dotted in FIG. 3. The slide mechanism limits movement of the plates so as to retain a slight overlapping thereof within the top section 12. Thus, the extended plates 37 and 38 form a continuous shield approximately twice the area of the top wall 26. The expanded shield provides protection for the users vital organs located in the body portion between the head and lower abdomen. An important feature of the invention is the use of transparent armor plate that allows the user to hold the top edge of the plate 37 above eye level while still permitting visual contact of the party confronted.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown another embodiment 51" of the present invention. As above, an attache case 52" includes top 53 and bottom 54" sections and is provided with a carrying handle 55. A fixed separator plate 56 made of a bullet proof material divides the interior of the case 52" into a portion that retains an armor plate assembly 57 and a hollow volume 58 for personal effects. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, the armor assembly 57 includes a first armor plate 61 slidably supporting a second armor plate 62 and itself slidable in a pair of slides 63 fixed to opposite interior side walls of the top attache case section 53". The slides 63 are U-shaped members having inner slide surfaces 64 that terminate with shoulder portions 65 that provide auxiliary slide surfaces 66. Fixed to the opposite edges of the first plate 61 are U-shaped slide mounts 67 similar to the fixed slides 63 and each having internal slide surfaces 68 terminating with a shoulder portion 69 that provide auxiliary slide surfaces 71. Fixed to ends of the slide mounts 67 is a hanger plate 72 having projections 73 that extend beyond the edges of the mounts 67. A similar hanger plate 75 with projections 76 is fixed to one edge of the armor plate 62.

During normal use of the case 54 the armor plates 61 and 62 are retained in a compact nested arrangement within the case 52" by a lever mechanism 81 identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. However when protection is desired, a user merely manipulates the trigger 82 to pivot a retainer pin 83 out of apertures 84 and 85 in the armor plates 61 and 62, respectively. This allows the plates to drop due to gravity out of the case 54" through an elongated slotted opening 86 in a side wall 87 of the case 52". The first armor plate 61 falls within the slides 63 until the projections 73 engage the shoulder portions 65 to thereby prevent further movement. The second armor plate 62, however, then falls within the slide mounts 67 until its projections 76 engage the shoulder portions 69 so as to retain the assembly with the plates 61,62 in the expanded positions shown in FIG. 7. In those positions the armor plates 61 and 62 together with the fixed internal divider plate 56 provide a bullet repellant surface equal to about 3 times the surface area of the closed case 52".

Referring now to FIG. 9 there is shown still another attache case embodiment 86 having a carrying handle 87 and a hollow internal volume 88 for receiving personal effects. Fixed to the inner surface of the attache cases bottom wall 89 is an armor plate 91 substantially coextensive therewith. Rotatably mounted within the case 86 on a spindle 92 is a cylindrical roll of sheet material 93 made, for example, of woven metallic strands.

During normal use, the sheet material 93 is retained as a compact roll within the case 86 with only an outer edge 94 projecting through an elongated slotted opening 95 in a bottom side wall 96 of the case 86. However,

when protection is desired, a user merely grasps a ring 97 secured to the exposed edge 94 and withdraws the full length of sheet material 93 through the slot 95 as shown dotted in FIG. 9. In this expanded position, the sheet material 93 together with the fixed plate 91 provides an enlarged protective surface that when suitably positioned protects a user from projectiles fixed from hand guns by an adversary.

FIG. shows a modified protective plate 101 that can be substituted for any of the plates 37, 38, 61 or 62 shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Plate 101 includes a lamination 102 formed of a solid bullet-proof material such as Lexan and lamination 103 is composed preferably of a compressed fiber material. The layer 103 absorbs much of a bullets velocity and thereby increases the effectiveness of the plate 102. Consequently, even relatively thin laminated plates 101 will stop high caliber projectiles such as those fired by 30 or 40 caliber magnum revolvers.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, by providing each section of an attache case with a fixed armor plate, the opened case would provide an expanded shield surface twice the size of the closed case. Similarly, the desired dual function of the attache case would be provided by forming the entire case of a suitable bullet proof material. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective carrying case for protecting a users body from bullets and comprising:

a multi-sided portable case enclosure means defining a volume for retaining articles to be transported, said enclosure means comprising separate sections movable relative to each other so as to provide access to said volume, armor means substantially coextensive with at least one side of said enclosure means, said armor means being impenetrable by bullets discharged at relatively close range by conventional to 45 caliber guns; and

attachment means connecting said separate sections.

2. A case according to claim 1 wherein said armor means comprises relatively movable armor surfaces that can be expanded from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration that increases the users body surface area that can be protected thereby.

3. A case according to claim 1 wherein said armor meanscomprises a laminated armor plate including a first lamination composed of a solid bullet resistant material and a second lamination composed of an absorbent fibrous material.

4. A protective carrying case for protecting a user's body from bullets and comprising:

a portable case enclosure means defining a volume for retaining articles to be transported, said enclosure means comprising separate sections movable relative to each other so as to provide access to said volume and armor means rendering said enclosure means impenetrable by bullets, said armor means comprising relatively movable armor surfaces that can be expanded from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration that increases the user's body surface area that can be protected thereby; and

attachment means connecting said separate sections.

5. A case according to claim 4 wherein said armor surfaces are provided by armor plates that establish in said expanded position an armor shield of larger surface area than any plane surface area of said separate sections.

6. A case according to claim 5 wherein said armor plates comprise one armor plate supported within said case enclosure means by one of said separate sections and movable relative thereto through an accommodating opening in said case enclosure means.

7. A case according to claim 4 wherein said enclosure means is an attache case formed by top and bottom walls of substantially the same area and opposing first and second and third and fourth side walls of smaller area, said top and bottom walls comprising said separate sections, and said attachment means comprises release latch means connecting said top and bottom walls along said first side wall and hinge means connecting said top and bottom walls along said second side wall.

8. A case according to claim 7 wherein said armor surfaces are provided by armor plates that establish in said expanded positions an armor shield of larger surface area than that of either said top or bottom walls.

9. A case according to claim 8 wherein said armor plates comprise one armor plate supported by slide means within said attache case and slidable through an opening in one of said side walls.

10. A case according to claim 9 wherein said handle means is attached to said one side wall, and one armor plate is formed of a transparent material.

11. A case according to claim 9 including retaining means for preventing movement of said one armor plate out of said case through said opening and trigger means for releasing said retaining means to allow said movement.

12. A case according to claim 11 including bias means for forcing said one armor plate out of said case after actuation of said trigger means.

13. A case according to claim 9 wherein said armor plates comprise a second armor plate supported within said attache case in a position substantially parallel to said first plate.

14. A case according to claim 13 wherein said second armor plate is supported by said slide means and slidable through an opening in a side wall opposite to said one side wall.

15. A case according to claim 14 including retaining means for preventing movement of said one and second armor plates out of said case through said openings, and trigger means for releasing said retaining means to allow said movement.

16. A case according to claim 15 wherein said one and second armor plates have an area substantially equal to that of said top and bottom walls, and including stop means for preventing substantial portions of said plates from moving out of saidcase after actuation of said trigger means.

17. A case according to claim 15 wherein said slide means comprise fixed slides mounted within said case adjacent and parallel to said side walls other than said one and opposite side walls, and carriages slidable on said fixed slides and slidably supporting said armor plates.

18. A case according to claim 17 wherein said opposite side wall is said first side wall, said hinge means comprises a pair of separate hinges spaced apart along said first side wall, said opening in said opposite side wall is a slot extending between said separate hinges, said second armor plate is between said one armor plate and said volume, and said opening in said one side wall in a slot therein.

19. A case according to claim 18 wherein said handle means is attached to said one side wall, and one armor plate is formed of a transparent material.

20. A case according to claim 19 including gun mount means for retaining a hand gun within said volume.

21. A case according to claim 4 wherein said armor means comprises a cylindrical roll of woven metallic sheet material rotatably mounted within said enclosure from said case. 

1. A protective carrying case for protecting a user''s body from bullets and comprising: a multi-sided portable case enclosure means defining a volume for retaining articles to be transported, said enclosure means comprising separate sections movable relative to each other so as to provide access to said volume, armor means substantially coextensive with at least one side of said enclosure means, said armor means being impenetrable by bullets discharged at relatively close range by conventional 20 to 45 caliber guns; and attachment means connecting said separate sections.
 2. A case according to claim 1 wherein said armor means comprises relatively movable armor surfaces that can be expanded from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration that increases the user''s body surface area that can be protected thereby.
 3. A case according to claim 1 wherein said armor means comprises a laminated armor plate including a first lamination composed of a solid bullet resistant material and a second lamination composed of an absorbent fibrous material.
 4. A protective carrying case for protecting a user''s body from bullets and comprising: a portable case enclosure means defining a volume for retaining articles to be transported, said enclosure means comprising separate sections movable relative to each other so as to provide access to said volume and armor means rendering said enclosure means impenetrable by bullets, said armor means comprising relatively movable armor surfaces that can be expanded from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration that increases the user''s body surface area that can be protected thereby; and attachment means connecting said separate sections.
 5. A case according to claim 4 wherein said armor surfaces are provided by armor plates that establish in said expanded position an armor shield of larger surface area than any plane surface area of said separate sections.
 6. A case according to claim 5 wherein said armor plates comprise one armor plate supported within said case enclosure means by one of said separate sections and movable relative thereto through an accommodating opening in said case enclosure means.
 7. A case according to claim 4 wherein said enclosure means is an attache case formed by top and bottom walls of substantially the same area and opposing first and second and third and fourth side walls of smaller area, said top and bottom walls comprising said separate sections, and said attachment means comprises release latch means connecting said top and bottom walls along said first side wall and hinge means connecting said top and bottom walls along said second side wall.
 8. A case according to claim 7 wherein said armor surfaces are provided by armor plates that establish in said expanded positions an armor shield of larger surface area than that of either said top or bottom walls.
 9. A case according to claim 8 wherein said armor plates comprise one armor plate supported by slide means within said attache case and slidable through an opening in one of said side walls.
 10. A case according to claim 9 wherein said handle means is attached to said one side wall, and one armor plate is formed of a transparent material.
 11. A case according to claim 9 including retaining means for preventing movement of said one armor plate out of said case through said opening and trigger means for releasing said retaining means to allow said movement.
 12. A case according to claim 11 including bias means for forcing said one armor plate out of Said case after actuation of said trigger means.
 13. A case according to claim 9 wherein said armor plates comprise a second armor plate supported within said attache case in a position substantially parallel to said first plate.
 14. A case according to claim 13 wherein said second armor plate is supported by said slide means and slidable through an opening in a side wall opposite to said one side wall.
 15. A case according to claim 14 including retaining means for preventing movement of said one and second armor plates out of said case through said openings, and trigger means for releasing said retaining means to allow said movement.
 16. A case according to claim 15 wherein said one and second armor plates have an area substantially equal to that of said top and bottom walls, and including stop means for preventing substantial portions of said plates from moving out of said case after actuation of said trigger means.
 17. A case according to claim 15 wherein said slide means comprise fixed slides mounted within said case adjacent and parallel to said side walls other than said one and opposite side walls, and carriages slidable on said fixed slides and slidably supporting said armor plates.
 18. A case according to claim 17 wherein said opposite side wall is said first side wall, said hinge means comprises a pair of separate hinges spaced apart along said first side wall, said opening in said opposite side wall is a slot extending between said separate hinges, said second armor plate is between said one armor plate and said volume, and said opening in said one side wall in a slot therein.
 19. A case according to claim 18 wherein said handle means is attached to said one side wall, and one armor plate is formed of a transparent material.
 20. A case according to claim 19 including gun mount means for retaining a hand gun within said volume.
 21. A case according to claim 4 wherein said armor means comprises a cylindrical roll of woven metallic sheet material rotatably mounted within said enclosure and extendible through a slot therein into said expanded position.
 22. A case according to claim 4 wherein said armor means comprise one armor plate slidably mounted within said case and slidable through an opening therein and a second armor plate slidably mounted on said one armor plate, said second armor plate being parallel and substantially coextensive with said one plate within said case and slidable on said one plate in a direction parallel to the surface thereof upon release from said case. 